Newt Gingrich, after speaking to about 400 Polk County Republicans in Johnston, predicted a top-three finish in Iowa.

“It would be an enormous advantage if we could win here,” he said. “We’re going to do everything we can. I think we’ll be in the top two or three. I can’t tell you tonight that we’re going to win, but certainly we have the opportunity to win here.”

Gingrich, who is enjoying a surge in the polls, said his campaign is trying to adjust to his improved circumstances.

“I have to confess, this is disorienting. This is such a rapid change that we’re having to rethink our own internal operations right now and where we are,” he said.

He said the speech he gave tonight, which was heavy on thematic references from American history, would have been out of place two weeks ago because he was an underdog.

“The fact is, given where we are, I think this is the right stage setting to start saying to people, this is what a Gingrich presidency would look like. This is how really different it would be,” he said.